Advertising sign



May 26, 1936. G MICHAUS 2,042,268

ADVERTISING SIGN Filed Feb. 26, 1935 Patented May 26, 19.36

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 6 Claims.

I'his invention relates toA improvements in advertising signs and more particularly to illuminated signs for interior use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical advertising sign particularly adapted for use within buildings although it is, of course, to be understood that with slight modiiications, such as water-proofing or placing in water-proofed containers, it may be used outside.

A further object is to provide a sign ofthe above character having relatively few parts, which may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled.

A further object is the provision of a sign of the last above-mentioned character, capable of various adjustments and in which the parts are so positioned and arranged as to cause variation in the advertised image viewed without actually changing the article.

A further object is the provision of a sign of the above general character in which mirrors are employed, together with asher lights for the purpose of attracting attention more readily to the matter to be advertised.

A further object is the provision of a compact, self-contained and portable sign which may be easily and quickly attached to any source of current for illuminating the same.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawing and in part hereinafter indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

'I'his invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relation of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modiiications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, a drawing depicting a preferred form of the invention has been annexed- Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the manner in which one of the parts may be moved;

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner in which one ofthe mirrors may be adjusted.

The present invention comprises an improvement over that type of sign shown in patent to Scott, No. 1,202,593.

Objections existing in prior constructions of this general character are overcome by the present invention, and reference is now made particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 wherein is shown a casing I0 (Fig. 2) constituting the rear of the sign and within which is mounted any suitable switch and converter mechanism enclosed in a'suitable box Il connected to any suitable source of power as by means of conductor wire I2 and plug I3 (Fig. 3). Casing I0 is preferably made of stamped sheet metal and is'provided at its four sides with a laterally extending ange I4 and forwardly 'extending rim I5. A cover member coextensive with the front of the sign is indicated at I6. Hinges l1 connect the cover to the casing at one side, and a latch and lock mechanism I8 are provided at the opposite side. Thus, by releasing the latch I8, the cover may be swung clear of the casing thereby to obtain access to the interior for reasons hereinafter stated.

Box Il preferably contains a suitable flasher mechanism (not shown in detail) but of an electric circuit of that general thermostatic type adapted to ash on alight at suitable predetermined intervals. I preferably employ a luminescent gas discharge tube light.` indicated at 20, extending entirely around the interior of the casing, shielded from the observer by means of an inwardly extending border 2l. Luminescent gas discharge tube 20 may be of the neon lled type and may be of any color or plurality of colors, or may comprise a plurality of tubes of different colors, connected with the flasher system and converter containing box I I in any convenient manner as desired. v

The casing I0 is provided with a mirror 22 oi' usual construction, that is, a sheet of glass provided with a rear mirrored surface. The front 45 of the casing, however, is provided with what is known as a translucent mirror that is, the front mirror 23 is Iusually made of two pieces of glass 23a. and 23h, as shown in section at the extreme right of Fig. 2, between which is a thin layer of mercury or silver 23e customarily used in mirrors of this kind.

It may be here noted that light 20 is positioned about the periphery of casing I0 in the angle formed by flange I4 and rim l5 between trans- 5 5 lucent mirror 23 and transparent mirror\22. The purpose of this arrangement is that mirror 23, when viewed from the front with light 20 extinguished, reflects an image'of the person viewing the mirror. It has been discovered, however, that by placing an object 24, such as a package of cigarettes, in'the plane of light 20 between the mirrors 22 and 23, when the light 20 is energized the package of cigarettes 24 or other article is well illuminated and clearly visible through mirror 23 while the reflection of the person in front of mirror 23 is completely eliminated. Thus, when the conventional thermostatic flasher contained in box l I operates to energize light 20 at suitable predetermined intervals, object 24 will be clearly Visible, the passage of light waves through mirror 23 serving to reduce and substantially eliminate the reflective power of layer 23o.. Corresponding ly, during the periods when light 20 is not energized, the resultant dark background serves to emphasize the reflective power of layer 23e and light waves impinging upon layer 23e from the outside reflect a well defined image of the person viewing the assembly to the outer surface of mirror 23.

It will be noted, by reference to Figs. 1 and 4,

. that the mirror 23 is pivotally mounted upon suitable trunnions 25 and 26, the latter being in the form of a set screw or nut 26 and, by loosening this nut, the angle of the mirror 23 with respect to the mirror 22 may be changed, whereupon any illustrated, ,for example, in Fig. 3.

While this broad idea of a reflection of a reflection, and so on, is old in the patent to Scott noted above, it has been found by positioning the mirrors a distance apart substantially equal to the thickness of the article to'be advertised, then the plurality of reflections of this article becomes contiguous to one another rather than spaced apart in pairs as might otherwise occur.

'I'he mirror 22 is preferably mounted and held in place by means of adjustable set screws 21 (Fig. 2). By the interposition of washers 29 (Fig. 5) between the flange I 4 and the back of the mirror 22, the relative distance between the two mirrors may be regulated at will.

The article to be advertised, illustratively a package of cigarettes, may'be easily and quickly changed as and when desired. It is customary to secure the article 2l to one of the mirrors by a drop of glue or other suitable adhesive, for example, and by swinging the cover I 6 clear of the casing the package may be easily and quickly torn oil and a different package, such as chewing gum, or a cigar, may be substituted. The rebefore connecting the sign to a source of power the front cover I 6 is released by latch I8, the mirror is properly polished, and the article to be advertised interposed and secured between the two mirrors 22 and 23. The angle of the mirror 23 is then adjusted as desired and the cover closed, whereupon the plug is inserted in a socket and the current flows through the flasher and luminescent gas discharge tube 20 to illuminate the sign at regular intervals.

It has been found that this forms a highly desirable advertising means in wash-rooms where mirrors are customarily placed. Most of the time the mirror 23 presents a perfect reflection of the person using the mirror, but, as stated above, at any suitable time interval, for'example every ten seconds, the tube 20 is illuminated through the flasher switch, thus eliminating the reflection of the person using the mirror and presenting the article advertised in colored lights. If the mirror 23 is tilted to a very slight angle, then innumerable reflections are transmitted back and forth between mirrors 22 and 23, thus giving the sign box an appearance of great depth and as containing a great number of the articles to be advertised.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certainl features that from the standpoint of the prior art fairly constitute essential characteris- `tics of the generic or specific aspects `oi! this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an advertising sign of the character described, in combination, a casing containing a conductor adapted to be attached to any source of current, a flasher box, a; mirror in said casing, illuminating means in front of said mirror and connected with said flasher box, a shield covering said illuminating means, a second mirror positioned in front of the casing and illuminating means and providing a space therebetween for the interposition of an article to vbe advertised, said second mirror being of the translucent type whereby as the light is turned on and oiT the article to be advertised may be viewed intermittently, means for adjustably supporting the first mirror, and means for changing the angularity of the second mirror with respect thereto.

2. In an advertising sign of the character described, in combination, a casing having an electrical conductor and connections mounted therein, said casing having a flanged periphery near its front side, a cover hinged thereto and provided with latching means, a light surrounding and within the cover, a shield obscuring the light from an observer in front of the sign, a mirror interposed between the front and back walls of the casing, a second mirror constituting the front of the casing and providing a space between the mirrors adapted to contain an article to be advertised, said front mirror being oi' the translucent type whereby as the light is turned on and off the article to be advertised may be viewed intermittently, and means for changing the angular relation of said mirrors whereby the article to be advertised is reected back and forth between the two mirrors.

3. In an advertising sign of the character described, in combination, a casing having an electrical conductor and connections mounted therein, said casing having a flanged periphery near its front side, a cover hinged thereto and provided with latching means, a light surrounding and within the cover, a shield obscuring the light from an vobserver in front of the sign, a mirror interposed between the front and back walls of 75 the casing, a second mirror constituting `the front of the casing and providing a space between the mirrors adapted to contain an article to be advertised, said front mirror being of the translucent type whereby as the light is turned on and off the article to be advertised may be viewed intermittently, means for changing the angular relation of said mirrors whereby the article to be advertised is reilected back and forth between the two mirrors, and means for adjusting one of the mirrors towards and from the other to vary the space to accommodate articles of different thicknesses.

4. In an advertising sign of the character described, in combination, a casing having electrical connections therein, a flanged front cooperating with said casing being hinged at one side and latched at the other whereby the iront may be swung clear to permit access to the interior oi the casing, the front of said casing being provided with a translucent mirror, a second mirror behind the first mirror, a light between the two mirrors, and a shield protecting'the observer from the direct rays of the light, said electrical connections including a flasher switch whereby the light is alternately turned on or oil at intervals thereby intermittently illuminating the article to be advertised or to' permit the iront mirror to give normal reilection to the person using the mirror.

5. In an advertising sign of the character described, in combination, a casing having electrical connections therein, a flanged front cooperating'with said casing being hinged at one side and latched at the other whereby the iront may be swung clear to permit access to the interior of the casing, the front of said casing being provided with a translucent mirror, a second mirror behind the tlrst mirror, a light between the two mirrors, and a shield protecting the observer from the direct rays of the light, said electrical connections including a asher switch whereby the light is alternately turned on or off at intervals thereby intermittently illuminating the article' to be advertised or to permit the front' mirror to give normal reection to the person using the mirror, said front mirror being mounted on trunnions positioned on opposite sides whereby the angular relation of the two mirrors may be changed thereby to produce reilections of reflections of the article to be advertised.

6. In an advertising sign of the characterkdescribed, in combination, a casing having a mirrored rear visible surface, alight surrounding said mirror, a second mirror spaced from the ilrst mirror and constituting the front of the' casing, said second mirror being translucent when illuminated by the light thereby to permit a l.viewoif the article to be illuminated positioned between said mirrors, iiasher means for turning the light on and "oiT at intervals, and means for changing the angular relation of one of the mirrors with respect to the other to produce a series of reflections of the article to be advertised.

GONZALO MICHAUs. 

